2011 Bible Study - Genesis 10-12, Matthew 4

[HisHomeMaker]

The scriptures are here:

http://view.lists.biblegateway.com/...mc=ExactTarget-_--_--_-View+as+a+Web+Page&r=0

 

[Nafe]

Not sure there is a huge lot to discuss in these passages,

 

[HisHomeMaker]

I need to read them, still.

 

[HisHomeMaker]

Sometimes I'll search the net for articles that discuss the readings I'm looking at. Today I looked for Genesis 11 and I found this

Genesis 11: The Tower of Babel

I agree with the idea that God was upset that the people were more concerned with making a big city with a big tower than doing what he asked, to spread out and repopulate the earth. I also agree that God created and likes cultural diversity. My struggle is with the following words,

God affirms ethnic diversity, but he opposes spiritual diversity. It is clear from this passage that God is behind ethnic diversity because he set it in motion by confusing their language at Babel. But in our culture, to affirm ethnic diversity usually means to affirm that all religions are valid as simply cultural expressions. The God of the Bible rejects this view, because he alone is God and he alone defines our spiritual dilemma and provides our solution. Religions and spiritual systems that contradict his revelation (like Babel's astrology) are false and wrong.

I know that my salvation is through Christ and I will share his message with seekers and the lost, but don't want to think about others who live good lives through other, non-Christian faiths as being damned.

What do you think?

 

[Nafe]

This is very tough. I agree that God appreciates diversity of nationalities, but with religious diversity, God does say that he is the one and only God and we should worship no other God but Jesus Christ. We should not judge the people who choose to be athiest, or Islamic, or the like, but people are not choosing Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, they are damned.

 

[HisHomeMaker]

Is there something here we should apply in our everyday life? If those who don't choose Christianity are damned, but God is the judge, is there anything we should do except living a Christ-like life and telling anyone who will listen? Do you feel the need to attempt to convert others? Evangelism and conversion is not something I'm comfortable with at this point in my life.

 

[HisHomeMaker]

The next thread, whenever you are ready
http://www.christianforums.com/t7525738/#post56488622

 

[JCFantasy23]

Sometimes I'll search the net for articles that discuss the readings I'm looking at. Today I looked for Genesis 11 and I found this

Genesis 11: The Tower of Babel

I agree with the idea that God was upset that the people were more concerned with making a big city with a big tower than doing what he asked, to spread out and repopulate the earth. I also agree that God created and likes cultural diversity. My struggle is with the following words,



I know that my salvation is through Christ and I will share his message with seekers and the lost, but don't want to think about others who live good lives through other, non-Christian faiths as being damned.

What do you think?

I think your viewpoint of this rocks. Hadn't thought it that way before, it's great how fellow Christians can provide insight and share it like this. Thank you.

 

[HisHomeMaker]

 

[HisHomeMaker]

Genesis 2 is also about temptation or being tested by evil.

Why does God allow temptation?

How, in our day and age, are things that God has forbidden presented as good for us? How are we to respond to this?

Have you experienced God warning you against something that you desired? What did you learn from this?

 

[Ezeretane]

Evangelism and conversion is not something I'm comfortable with at this point in my life.

it's true that sharing is very personal at least for me and most of the time i find it very hard
to do so
some people refuse to believe that the people who do not confess that christ is god and the only way to please god
and to be recognise clean by grace is to accept if but is a biblical truth
but i find it more simple to say that by sinning we refused god 's love and that the only way to accept it again is trought jesus
so i talk mostly about the love of god for us which is materialize by the cross
to do so i think that each of us as to find his way :for me, as you are not allow to talk about faith at woak in france , i'm used to
offer card with a personal word and a chosen verse for each person i fell the spirit shows me
it a nice gift and i'm sure god can talk through just a verse and i pray for it also.

 

[Ezeretane]

Dear HisHomeMaker

Why does God allow temptation?

because we have a free will and that also is a grace and love
we could have been robot with a program: worship GOD instead we have choice and it
's all about true love actually
so i'd say temptation comes from the fact we have free will and we sinned! because if the
right choice had been made at first it would just have been a bad choice not a temptation ...i think

How, in our day and age, are things that God has forbidden presented as good for us?

basically it's everything the bible shows throught the lifes of all these men and women of god
today things are just deformed to make you ask yourself the question: is it so bad and the more simple way to answer
is :what would jesus have done if he was here with me?
most of the time it's the more difficult thing to do even if they seem insignificant :like not laughing to any very dirty jokes or else
it can seem extreme but jesus made no comprise ,we must do the same
very hard to do and i still need training ...
then we can pray: the holy spirit can show us bad ways and good one and help us inour choice
without needing anyone to tell us anything but as everything it's a training that begins "on our knees"

How are we to respond to this?

a big yes knowing that eveything is going to be all right ...still hard to do somtimes

Have you experienced God warning you against something that you desired? What did you learn from this?

it will be in another post

 

[zairsmith]

Why does God allow temptation?

I believe that temptation is allowed by God so we can truly show that we love Him. Jesus Christ says if you love me then you will keep my commandments. The world was not created with sin but in the free will of man, sin has entered into the world. The bible teaches us that Adam had just one thing to not do. I think when God gave Adam the commandment not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil it was the one test by which Adam was to outwardly express his love for God. This is what we do when we are tempted and keeps God's word.

How, in our day and age, are things that God has forbidden presented as good for us?

I think the love and desires of this world is fed to us through careless media blogs and T.V. Through television, we see mammon the god of money, we see false idols, and a whole lot of self idolitry. These type of projections teach those who are subjected to them to covet and seek worship. This is a huge no no. The Father's first commandment is not to worship any other god. Television tells us that we can and that it is good for us to worship ourselves.

How are we to respond to this?

I think all things should be responded to through prayer. Pray that we, as Christians are not led astray because some of these things we see on t.v. are very enticing. Pray for those who have been and are blinded that God binds any stronghold that the accuser may have on their life. Also pray for these celebrities who model themselves after the evil things in this world.

Have you experienced God warning you against something that you desired? What did you learn from this?

I have been convicted a few times about my motives and desires. I think its ok to desire things. Its when you are pre-occupied with these things of desire that sets an individual up for failure. So, I have learned to question my motives behind my desires.